Match-box support



Nov. 15, 1927. I V I 1,649,167

W. E. KEENE MATCH BOX SUPPORT Filed May 22. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8INVENTOR. I Z elf W157i 6* 622 Q :9. L6 BY 1 W -WM v ATTORNEY.

Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,167

w. E. KEENE MATCH BOX SUPPORT Filed May 22. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

WALTER EUGENE KEEITE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MATCH-BOX. SUPPQRT.

Application filed May 22,

This invention relates to improvements in supports for match boxes orthe like and has as one object the provision oi? means for holding thebox in open position, and of means whereby the support for the box maybe fastened to the edge of an ash tray to permit a cigar or cigarettechoker carried on the support, to overhang the ash tray and to dischargethereinto.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a support for a match boxwhich will of itself rest firmly upon an even surface to support thebox. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device mounted upon the edge of anash tray, with a sectional view of a match box in open po sition uponthe support.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the mode of application of the drawer ofthe box to the support.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 2, partly in section.

Fig. 3 shows the box in open position on the support with the tiltablebottom of the choker shown in dotted lines, in tilted position.

Figs. 4: and i show a modification of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig; 5 is a top view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the choker tube with its bottom held in place bya split ring. Fig. 7 shows a modification of the disc.

Figs. 8, 9, and 11 show a modification including means for securelyholding the casing or shuck against accidental movement and meansproviding a convenient cigar cutter. Fig. 8 is a front view, Fig. 9 is aside view, 10 and 11 are top and bottom views respectively.

Fig. 12 is a view of another use of the invention.

Figure 18 shows a modification including 1926. Serial No. 111,079.

tion 6, and surrounding the aperture, said portion 6 also having theflat match box supportiong portion 4 upturned therefrom, and verticallydisposed at right angles thereto.

The support a has rearwardly extending lugs 8 struck from the facethereof, one at the top edge and one at each 01 the side edges.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 2, in applying the box to the support thedrawer is pushed downwardly until it projects slightly beyond the casingwhereupon the lower end wall of the drawer ispositioned with its edge incontact with support 4: between the top lug and the two side lugs. Withthe edge of the lower wall in contact with the support 4, the drawer islimited in upward movement by the top lug and in downward movement bythe side lugs. The drawer is maintained in contact with the support t byslipping the sleeve or casing of the box down over the support 1 untilit is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The cigarette choker tube5 has a cylindrical upper portion 9 and an inverted irustro-conicallower portion 10, the larger diameter of which conical portion 10 isless than the diameter of the cylindrical portion whereby an innershoulder 11 and an outer shoulder 12 are formed at the juncture of theupper and lower portions. The inner shoulder 11 is adapted to serve as asupport for a tiltable disc 13, which may be either loose, so as toenable it to tilt in any direction, or pivotally mounted so as to tiltin a predetermined direction. The disc or bottom member 13 of the chokermay be held against tilting if desired. This can be done by inserting asplit ring spring 14- in the choker tube 5 just above the bottom' member13 as shown in Fig. 6. lVhere the disc is thus held from tilting thedevice is especially adapted for use independent of an'ash tray. lVhenthus used the device rests on any even surface and it is morepracticable to have a fixed bottom for the choker and to invert thewhole device when necessary to empty the choker, than to have a tiltablebottom.

In place of the disc 13 a disc having a portion cut away to provide abeveled cutting edge, as shown .at 13 in Fig. 7 may be used as a cigartrimmer. To trim the ash from the cigar, the cigar is inserted in thechoker tube and turned in contact with the sharpened edge, thus trimmingthe cigar and allowing the ash and tobacco thus removed to drop downthrough the opening formed by the cut away portion and into the ashtray. This form of combined choker bottom and cutter may simply restupon the shoulder within the tubular member, so that it is removable andmay be replaced with either a complete bottom disc or with a tiltingdisc.

The invention is not confined to the particular disposition of the lugs8 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Obviously, a single cent ally disposed lugbelow the top lug may be substituted for the two side lugs withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In the modification shown inlligs. f and a a single lug 8 provided which serves to limit upwardmovement of the box drawer by entering the drawer through its open sideand engaging its lower wall. This form depends on the frictional contactbetween the support t and the drawer, to hold the drawer up or in otherwords, to resist downward movement of the drawer.

In using the cigarette choker 5 the cigarette or cigar is readilyextinguished or choked by pressing straight down upon the center of disc13. If after choking it is desired to remove the ash from the choker,pressure is exerted on the edge portion of the disc, causing it to tipand allow the ash to fall through into the tray 1.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. i that the device can be usedapart from the tray and when the casing of the box is in position on thesupport l it extends rearwardly thereof to the extent of the thicknessof the casing to form additional support for the device to preventtipping.

With reference to the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 11, shoulders areprovided which are adapted upon insertion of the upstanding match boxsupport within the easing of the box, to frictionally engage and hug theinner sides of the side walls of the casing. A member 16 is stamped outof the piece of metal forming the support and is bent forwardly awayfrom the upstanding member sufliciently to allow the front face of thebox casing to be wedged between it and the upstanding member.

The shoulders 15 and the spring member 16. serve to effectively retainthe box casing upon. the support against accidental displacement.

In Figs. 8 to 11 the choker has not been shown in order that thefeatures 15 and 1G and the cutter 17 may be more readily shown. It isintended, however, that the choker shall be used with this form as wellas with the other, andthis choker may have either a tilting bottom orany of the other bottoms described.

The cigar cutter is especially adapted for cutting cigars over the ashtray so that the cuttings may drop immediately into the tray.

The knife member 17 is disposed on the under side of the horizontallydisposed portion or base of the device and is pivotally secured theretoat 18. The knife member 17 is provided with a cutting edge 21 which isadapted upon outward movement of member 17 about its pivot to cooperatewith an aperture 19 in cutting of the end of the cigar preparatory tosmoking. The knife 17 is provided with a pin 20 which engages a notch 22in the base of the device which limits the inward movement of the member17 and leaves a portion of said member extending beyond the edge of thebase as shown at in Fig. 10 to aid in manipulation of the cutter. Theknife member 17, being in the general form of a bell crank pivoted atthe end of one of its arms and the outside edge of said arm being thecutting edge, provides for cutting off the end of a cigar with greatease and with the application of but little force.

The device shown in Figs. 8 to 11 is espeeially adapted to be fastenedby soldering or otherwise to the edge of an ash tray with its baseportion carrying the cutter device and choker overhanging the tray.

In operation of the cutter, the cigar is inserted into the aperture 19.The knife member 17 is then grasped between the thumb and fingers byslipping the fingers beneath the base member to engage the under side ofthe knife and engaging the projecting upper side of the knife with thethumb. It will be found that there is ample space between the basemember and the bottom of the average tray for the insertion of thefingers. The knife member is then pulled outwardly about its pivot whichcauses the cutting edge 21 to traverse the apertures 19, cleanly andevenly removing the end of the cigar projecting thcrethrough.

The modification just described includes all necessary and relatedfeatures of the invention. The device on being mounted on the edge of anash tray provides for cutting a cigar, removing its ash, and choking it,the tobacco and ash from these operations being deposited immediatelyinto the ash tray.

In Fig. 12 the choker and match box holder are shown mounted upon a trayremovably. The tray has a projection 21 which extends up from theshoulder 2. The base portion 6 of the holder and the upstanding supportlie respectively against the shoulder-and the front face of theprojection and the shuck embraces the upstanding support and theprojection.

The support t may have a projection or projections 4 stamped outtherefrom to enter a recess 26 in the projection 24 so that it will beretained against upward movement when the shack is removed. This featuremay be used in any of the forms previously llt) described Where theseare susceptible of having this incorporated. The holder may be attachedto the projection by a pin passing through the holder and theprojection.

It Will be seen that the upwardly extending part of the holder is spacedapart from the choker. 'lhis atl'ords a space in which a packet ofmatches can be held, by frictional contact With the said holder port-ionl and the choclzer. This is indicated in Fig. 12.

As shown in Figure 13, I show prongs at a for puncturing the end of thecigar, and a guide tube Z) for directing the cigar end to these prongs.This device may be mounted on the base plate of the forms previouslydescribed and if desired may take the place or the choker. The prongsmay be, for instance, three in number.

I claim:

A support for a box of matches comprising an upstanding supportingmember of sheet metal, said member being provided at its upper end witha pair of horizontally disposed lugs struck therefrom, said lugscomprising an upper and a lower lug, and said lugs being adapted toengage one Wall of the drawer of the box to limit its vertical movement,and an upstanding portion stamped out of the supporting member at itslower end and disposed slightly in frontof said supporting member andparallel thereto, whereby the front Wall of the box casing may be wedgedbetween the two and trictionally held against displacement.

In testimony whereof. I afiix my signature.

WALTER EUGENE KEENE.

